Med lab scientists at work.
Medical laboratories can be based in hospitals where they provide urgent and routine laboratory test results to emergency departments, intensive care, clinics, and ward staff. Medical laboratory scientists can also be found in the community – where they provide diagnostic support to general practitioners – or undertaking challanging employment in other areas.
From industrial research and public health laboratories to forensic and pharmaceutical laboratories, University of Otago Medical Laboratory Science graduates' analytical, scientific, and technical skills are a valuable asset.
Around 70 per cent of our graduates enter profession of Medical Laboratory science, with the other 30 per cent choosing postgraduate study of one of the diverse career options listed below:
- Consulting
- Commercial sector laboratories
- Education
- Forensic biological sciences
- Laboratory information systems
- Public health / infection control
- Medical research and product development
- Sales and marketing
- Supervision / administration / management
- Technical support
- Quality assurance / total quality improvement
The Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science degree is also a gateway to a variety of postgraduate study options and entry into other health professional courses, such as medicine or dentistry.